'Dhurandhar' lost almost Rs 90 crore due to ban in gulf nations: Distributor

The spy thriller Dhurandhar has crossed the Rs. 1,000 crore mark at the global box office, even as its international run was hindered by a ban in several Middle Eastern markets. According to distributor Pranab Kapadia, the loss has been close to a whopping Ra 90 crore.

Directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, the film’s overseas distributor estimated that the restriction cost the movie “at least a ten-million-dollar box office that we have lost, because traditionally action films have always performed very well in the Middle East.”

Speaking to News18, Kapadia explained that action-oriented Hindi films have historically done strong business in Gulf countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, markets where Dhurandhar did not secure release. “We feel that it should have gotten a release,” he said, while also acknowledging that “we have to respect the views and the rules and regulations of every territory and every country, and they have their reasons.”

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The distributor noted that Dhurandhar was not the first Indian film to face such restrictions, pointing out that earlier titles like Fighter also did not get a Gulf release. “We of course made a full attempt at ensuring that we put our best foot forward for the release. But I think ultimately, the film has found its audience, if not in the Gulf, then elsewhere,” Kapadia added.

Despite the overseas setback, Dhurandhar’s box office performance remained historic. The film achieved massive collections in India and other territories, buoyed in part by the year-end holiday season, which saw some viewers from the Gulf region travel abroad and catch the film in cinemas in Europe and North America. “I know some of them, who have travelled overseas. Especially in the month of December, they are on holiday… they have actually enjoyed the film,” Kapadia said, explaining how the timing partially mitigated the impact of the ban.

The film’s strong run underscores both its mass appeal and the challenges Indian films can face when geopolitical sensitivities intersect with distribution strategies. Dhurandhar, now among the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025 and on track to join the Rs. 1,100 crore worldwide club, will likely continue its box office march through early 2026.